Hand weapon



Sept. 7 1926.

VVQ S. RAE ET AL HAND WEAPON Filed Feb. 17, 192e INVENTORS MN W Mretenue Sept. 7, 192e. y

UNITED. STATES 'WALTER S. RAE AND BOBERT B. REYNOLDS, OF PITTSBURGH, ANDVICTOR BAILEY; F SVISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, .ASSIGNOILSv TQ FEDERALLABORATORIES,'INCOI R` PORATED, OFPITTSBUBGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ACORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA. I

HAND wnnroiu.

Applicationled February 17, 1926. Serial No. 88,788.

l@ rence structure, there is shown a trigger mechanism for setting thegas generator into action. We provide an electrically operated gasgenerator which may be readily tested. These Weapons aregenerallysupplied to pow lice forces, and it is extremely important to llmow that they are always in working condition.

With our improved weapon, tests may be very quicklymade todeterminewhether or lt@ not the weapon is in condition for immediateuse. These tests are made by using a small lamp to test the batteryvwhich is pro- 'videdv for setting od the weapon and, of course, thebattery may be very quickly re- @d placed if it is found to be defectiveor expended. l "Weilurther provide an improved cartridge for use in thisweapon, the cartridge comprising a oraminousl container having a gasreducing combustible mixture therein, and aving a starter compositioncovering the container. Preferably a protective covering is put over thestarting composition. This cartridge may be readily-handled without d@harm and it may be 'stored for an indefinite period Aof time Withoutdeterioration. In the accompanying drawings, 11lustrat. Y ing thepresent preferred embodiment of our invention Figure'l is a centrallongitudinal sectlon through a policemans mace embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the cartridge used,'and fw Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line III-IH.

ln the illustrated embodiment .of our invention, there is shown apolicemans club having a tubular body 2 with a flanged end portion 3.The body is covered with leather rings 4, which are compressedl agamstthe iiange 3 and held in place by a collar 5, which is threaded onto theother 'endof the body. The body is interiorly threaded adjacent the endportion 3 to receive a head 6, which is also covered with leather v7.The -head 6 is provided with a nozzle 8 for directing the incapacitatinggas which issues from the mace when it is put into operation.

A' handle 9 is threaded onto the other end of the body portion 2 and theentire gas generating mechanism is carried by this handle. rlhe handleis interiorly threaded to receive a plug 10, in ,which is mounted aninsulating block 11.

'The insulating block is provided with two contact members 12 and 13which are made of brass or other suitable metal, and which' are drilledto receive the terminals of an electrically operated gas cartridge.

The cartridge is shown in detail in Figure 2, and consists of a baseblock 1d of hard xrubber or other suitable insulating material mountedin one end of a oraminous container 15. This container is cylindrical inshape and is filled with a suitable gas producing mixture, preferably amixture or chloracetophenone and gun powder is used. A small quantity ofsuitable stabilizer such as magnesium oxide is also included in the mix.'Chloracetophenone is a crystalline substance which vaporizes upon theapplication ofl heat and produces a very edective lachrymatory gas. Thegun powder acts as a combustible to supply the necessary heat.

A pair of terminal plugs 16 is provided,

PATENT oFFlcE.-

these plugs tting into the holes in the members A12 and 13. rllhe plugsextend through the block 11i and are connected to the terminals 17 of asquib 18. The squib comprises a body in which the terminals 17 aresecured, a platinum bridge wire 19 and a ball 20 of suitable boostermix. The bridge wire 19 provides sulicient resistance to the flow ofelectric current so that it becomes .heated and fires the ball 20, thusigniting the entire gas cartridge. i

lt is desiredin a pparatusgo this type to i secure a very highconcentration of gas and for this reason it is most desirable that thecombustion of thematerial within the cartridge proceed ata high rate.We, therefore, providedabooster composition 21 over the entire outersurface of the foraminous container 15. As soon as the dame, which isinitiated at the booster ball 20, reaches the outer surface of thecartridge. it travels with extreme -rapidity along the surface bly rea-`doing away with any possibilityof the material being blown out with theissuing gases 1n an unburned condition. p

In order that the cartridge may be handled without injury and also iiiorder. to

permit of its being storedwithout deterioration, we provide a coveringover the entire cartridge. This covering preferably consists of a tissuepaper wrapping 22 immediately over a booster mix 21 and an outer shell23 of Celluloid or 'other combustible material. The cover protects theentire cartridge from moisture and other outside con-V ditions, but isso inflammable that it does not interfere with the action of the boostercoating 21. The end of the cartridge remote from the body 14 iscoveredby a brass cap 24 which tits over the celluloid casing.

The cartridge is shown in its position in F ig. 1. As above stated, theterminal plug 16 lits into the terminal members 12 and 13 and the body 2may then be screwed into the body 9 to enclose the cartridge inthe club.A pin 25 is provided in the body for holding the cartridge 1n place. Y

.'The handle 9 contains an electric cell 26, one terminal 27 of which isadapted to contact with the terminal member 12. The cell is very smalland easily lits yinto a handle. It is of the type nerally used inflashlights and vit has en found 'exceedingly satisfactory in actualoperation.. As is well known, the other terminal of a flashslight cellis the base or side wall of 'such cell. We prov1de a cap 28 which isthreaded into the L end of the handle 9 and is provided with va 35 inthe'push button 30. Obviously the copper spring 29 for bearing againstthe bottom 'of the cell 26. This not only elec` trically connects thecell with the handle proper, vbut also insures proper contact be tweenthe .terminals 12 and 27. i Y The switch mechanism by which the electrical circuit is completeckis best shownin Fig. 3. AIt comprisesaswitch button 430 slidably mounted in a bushing 31 which is threaded inthe handle 9 and normally held in the position of Fig. 3 byV ajleafspring 32.

, When the button 30 is depressed, the leaf sprin 32 bears against theterminal 1-3, thus comp eting the electrica circuit and permittingcurrent toiilow through the bridge'wire 19. When this'roocurs,thecartridg is set of and a stream of gas issues from the nozzle 8,continuing until the cartridge is expended..l A safety 33 is provided,it being merely' aslide plece carried by rivets BAL-and having tonguesadapted to' engage a groove recarsi Vbutton cannot be depressed untilthe safety has been withdrawn. y.

The expended cartridge may be readily removed by unscrewing the body 2from the handlef 9, and the battery may be, renewed. if desired, byunscrewing the cap 28. Since the cartridge which we provide is notsubject Jto deterioration, the only 'part of the weapon which needstesting is the battery, and this may be readilydone by removing thebattery from the club and testing it withv an ordinary iiash-light bulb.'If the bulb burns, it is known that the battery is in proper conditionfor igniting the cartridge when desired, and this feature of ourinvention is particularly useful in cases where the weapon is issued toa large body of men, such vas a police force, as in this case it isusually desired to periodically test. all of the weapons in service.

The mace may be used in ,its ordinary manner without the gas producingmecha- I nism being a'ected in any way, and it makes an extremelyconvenient and desirable .weapon for armed forces. The weapon does notpresent any unusual-appearance andA is provided with the ordinary handstrap 36, so that it/may be conveniently carried.

l't will be understood that the, term inl capacitating gas, as hereinused, relates not only to tear gas, but alsoto other incapacitatinggases and smokes. The term gun powder is also used as a `word of'defi-v,nition, rather than of limitation, and is intended to cover othercombustible capable of self-supporting combustion.

While we have illustrated a lpreferred embodiment of the invention, itwill be understood that it is not restricted'to the form shown as it maybe otherwise embodied within the scopel of the followingclaims.lA Weclaim 1. weapon including a gas generfator, an electricalvmeans forsetting the-same lnto` operation, the gas generator comprlsmg` aforaminous container having acombustlble incapacitating gas producingmixture therein, and a booster composition over the outside of thecontainer.

2. A weapon including a vgas generator,

means yfor setting the same into operation, l

l'the gas generator comprising` a foraminous container havingaVcombustible incapacitating gas producing mixture therein, and la booster[composition over the outside of the '.contilir. 7

3. A weapon vincluding a gas .'generator, Imeans for setting the sameinto operatlon', the gas generator comprising a foraminous containerhaving a combustible incapacitat- 1 ing gas producing mixture therein,abposter composition over the outside of the container, and an outerprotective covering over the booster composition;

4. A gas generating unit comprising a I l5 lie container, and amoisture-prooi` cover,

foran'iinous container having a combustible incapacitating gas producingmixture there' in, and a booster composition over the outside of thecontainer. I

5,. A gas fgenerating unit comprising a Jforaminous container having acombustible incapacitating gas producing mixture ther-ein, a boostercomposition over the outside of the container, and an outer protectivecover ing over the booster composition.

6. A gas generating unit comprising a foraminous container having acombustible incapacitating gas producing mixture therein, a boostercomposition over the outside of ing over the booster composition.

7. A gas generating unit comprising a foraminous container having acombustible i'ncapacitating gas producing mixture therein, a boostercomposition over the outside of the container, and a Celluloid coveringover the booster composition.

8. A gas generating unit comprising a oraminous container having acombustible ineapacitating gas producing means Within the container forigniting the mixture, and

a booster composition over the outside of' the container.

9. A gas generating unit comprising a foraminous container having acombustible incapacitating gas producing means Within the container forigniting the mixture, 'a boosterl composition over the outside of thecontainer, and a protective lcovering over the booster composition.

10. A gas generating unit comprising a foraminous container having acombustible incapacitating gas producing means Within the container forigniting the mixture, a booster composition over the outside of thecontainer, and a protective covering over the booster composition, theprotective covering being of inflammable material.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands.

WALTER- S. RAE.

ROBERT B. REYNOLDQ. l VICTOR BAILEY.

